The Damage

A Novel

By: Caitlin Wahrer

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

“[One of the] buzziest new books arriving this season...[a] rollercoaster of terror, marked by whip-fast twists and turns.” (New York Times)

“Pulled me in from the first page.... Put this one high on your summer list.” (Stephen King)

When a small-town family is pushed to the brink, how far will they go to protect one of their own? An edgy, propulsive story about what we will do in the name of love and blood.

Tony has always looked out for his younger brother, Nick. So when he's called to a hospital bed where Nick is lying battered and bruised after a violent sexual assault, his protective instincts flare, and a white-hot rage begins to build.

As a small-town New England lawyer, Tony's wife, Julia, has cases involving kids all the time. When Detective Rice gets assigned to this one, Julia feels they're in good hands. Especially because she senses that Rice, too, understands how things can quickly get complicated. Very complicated.

After all, one moment Nick was having a drink with a handsome stranger; the next, he was at the center of an investigation threatening to tear not only him, but his entire family, apart. And now his attacker, out on bail, is disputing Nick's version of what happened.

As Julia tries to help her brother-in-law, she sees Tony's desire for revenge, to fix things for Nick, getting out of control. Tony is starting to scare her. And before long, she finds herself asking: Does she really know what her husband is capable of? Or of what she herself is?

Exploring elements of doubt, tragedy, suspense, and justice, The Damage is an all-consuming listen that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer.

©2021 Caitlin Wahrer (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A startling twist makes this taut debut a must-read.” (People)

“Compelling...a taut drama.” (Bustle)

“This is a raw, sharp crime drama that puts a family at the center of seeking justice.” (Buzzfeed)

Fantastic!

The Damage is a very clever, creative and socially relevant novel. It’s also a great mystery and an all around wonderful listen on so many levels. I highly recommend this book.

Finally Gave up!

This story started out promising. The action moved quickly and was intriguing, but then the author lapsed into giving the audience the rest of the story in very short bits and pieces, jumping around in time and jumping in points of view. I tried to get to the end, but finally had to give it up. The story would have been much shorter if the author had stayed on point, so perhaps this was merely a technique to drag things out. It dragged, all right.

Lackluster ending

I enjoyed this book for the most part but it was listed as a thriller when I didn’t really find it to be one. I also was not very invested in the ending.

I enjoyed the bulk of the book though.

Wow.

I am a mild critic as I passively listen to audiobooks while I do my work but when I say wow, I mean it. This captured my attention and made me even play on 1.5 speed just to absorb the story more quickly. Fantastic book, talented author. 100% the next book you need to read.

This will be a movie

Fresh and timely. believable, substantive characters, and fast paced plot. ill look forward to more books by Wahrer.

Hooked in the first 15 minutes!

I loved it! I will listen again, and highly recommend ! first book of her that I've listened to. will try another

Almost took a personal day to listen

I didn’t want to stop listening to this story. It’s incredibly written. Glad to have the option to listen to from my earbuds while putting my kids to bed. Wahrer’s ability to make you feel like you’re in the room is next level.

Great listen!

Really great listen, lots of twists and turns. Very likable characters with a lot of heartfelt issues going on. Trigger warning for sexual abuse.

Super long, a slow burn but really good.

Since this was a slow burner, I started to think it would never get to the punch line. But holy shitballs it did. I would never have thought Julia would truly offer him up to be 'iced', though the mention of Alisa did give me pause. It was an interesting listen.

collateral damage of rape

Trigger warning: brutal sexual assault with an assumed sexual predator. In this case, the rape victim was a male college student who indulged in excessive liquor at a dive bar which ended in a horrendous rape.

“The Damage” by Caitlin Wahrer explores gay rape. The victim, Nick Hall, tries to keep the rape quiet because he’s embarrassed. This novel brings out all the shame associated with rape. Nick finds it exceptionally humiliating because he was dominated….what self-respecting male allows himself to be dominate? Add to that, the assailant has a differing memory of the events which adds to Nick’s trepidation.

The story is told in two timeframes. The time of the rape, 2015, and 2019 when the lead detective revisits the case with Julia, Nick’s sister-in-law. Thus, from the beginning we know that there is some uncleared business from the case. The reader slowly learns about what truly happened that night…the horror. Plus, we learn how the court case and trial dates weigh on the victim. The social media and public opinion that attaches itself to these personal crimes only add to the original trauma.

Nick has endured a traumatic childhood leaving him with his older half brother Tony taking care of him. When Nick is raped, this close-knit family comes together to find justice. But the collateral damage of this assault weighs heavily on the family.

The story is also told from three points of view: Nick; Julia; Tony and John(the detective). Through the alternating character chapters, the suspense grows. How did the case close?

I love when I don’t guess the ending, nor see any of the ending until the very last chapters. Well done Ms. Wahrer!